Freecloud Records

Wow. What a selection. For album aficionados this is a great place. Loads of selection. I don’t know many people that still have a turntable but if you do, this is a must-​visit. They don’t have everything because of course this is a specialty market but they might have what you’re looking for…

Oh Freecloud. I swear I used to spend more time here than in class when I was a student at Vic next door. I am not and never was a serious record collector, but I bought a lot of 7″ records, punk records and the odd hilarious cassette tape. I do know Freecloud is a great place for collectors to go. There are always people in there taking a good, long browse, buying, selling, and shooting the breeze with Rich, the owner (and singer/​guitar player in Mad Bomber Society). That man is like a living music encyclopedia, I’m telling you. The price range is huge, from cheap for random old EPs to expensive for rare collectors items. If they don’t have what you want, they’ll try their best to order it for you.
I personally like to buy tickets for shows at Freecloud whenever I possibly can, rather than giving my money to Ticketmaster. At most he’ll charge a $ 1 service charge which is pretty decent in my books.
I love all the postcards, old show posters and quirky records up on the walls. One of my favourite places in the city for sure.
AND! They just got named one of Canada’s Top 10 record stores!

Like most of the shoebox-​shaped indie record stores in the city, Freecloud specializes in new and reissued vinyl. They have a pretty respectable selection of used vinyl too. They also sell used CDs and cassettes in case there’s anybody in this day-​and-​age that still cares about used CDs and cassettes. I’ve seen the odd 8-​track for sale in there too which I think is absolutely awesome… for some reason.
Honestly, the prices on the new vinyl are pretty steep there. This isn’t just a knock at Freecloud, because all of the shoebox-​shaped indie record stores in the city sell the new stuff at a high price. It’s usually cheaper to purchase new releases and reissues online. Besides, we all know that the real charm of the indie record store lies in the possibilities of what you could find in the previously owned bins. Freecloud’s prices on the previously-​enjoyed stock are humane and acceptable as is their selection and diversity.
Everytime I go there, there’s always some random record geek at the check-​out with his entire record collection plopped on the counter under the pretense of getting his stuff appraised. I think he’s really going there for validation, so he can be assured by the store’s owner that he has a «cool» collection.
If nothing else, you can at least visit Freecloud to check out the velvet Elvis display or tribute or whatever it is. There’s also really cool love beads that hang from the ceiling at the back of the store which loan more authenticity to the indie-​ness of the place. This will give you something to look at while you’re waiting for Mr. Record Geek to get his rare 1974 limited edition, German-​pressed, coloured vinyl, 45 RPM Mastered, signed and numbered copy of whatever-​the-​hell appraised. Be sure to tell him that he has a «cool» collection. Maybe it will get him out the way faster.
I don’t have an 8-​track player, by the way.

Freecloud is a very small used record store in Edmonton’s downtown area. It mostly stocks vinyl and sells at very inexpensive rates. There is rock, folk, punk, alternative, and country, with the majority of the store being rock and pop. I have never found anything really rare here, but you never know. I personally just love flipping through the rows of vinyl looking and seeing all of the names of groups I grew up listening to. The place is very small and tight, and can sometimes be a bit on the musty side, but this kind of atmosphere is actually quite fitting for a second hand music shop.